WORK OVERVIEW

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has been working on rural water and sanitation issues for more than two decades now highlighting the need for rational management of water resources and waste. As part of its work in the field of water and waste management, CSE has been conducting research, documenting innovative case studies, produced publications and manuals and also undertaken model projects and training programmes. Eight years of CSE’s research yielded the influential publication, Dying Wisdom: The Rise, Fall and Potential of Traditional Water Harvesting Systems, a book that catalysed senior political leaders, judges, editors and other decision-makers into thinking about rainwater harvesting. The campaign got a major boost after the timely publication in 2001 of a briefing paper, Drought- Try capturing the rain, written by CSE founder-director, the late Anil Agarwal. The paper highlighted the successful grassroots efforts of villagers in Gujarat, western Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh who, in the face of the worst drought ever recorded in over a 100 years, drought-proofed their communities by employing traditional rainwater harvesting structures. The result: everybody – from the Prime Minister to state Chief Ministers – has started rainwater harvesting programmes. 

Other influential publications in this campaign include: Making Water Everybody’s Business, and the Water Harvesting Manual, which are practical guides on rainwater harvesting for planners and policy-makers. In its efforts to make rainwater harvesting a national movement, CSE has taken the campaign to rural areas by creating a network of communities called jalbiradaris (water communities). The campaign also promotes water harvesting in urban areas by distributing publications, conducting lectures, organising paaniyatras (eco-tours of harvesting structures in rural regions), demonstrations, exhibitions and training workshops. The campaign established the National Water Harvesters Network to help interact with water harvesters. 

The current programme on Rural Water Waste Management evolved through this campaign and continues with strategy of: (1) Policy research and advocacy, (2) Awareness raising and networking; and, (3) Training and education. From 2009-15, CSE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation has undertaken training, research and monitoring for sustainability of drinking water resources aimed at bringing sustainability in drinking water supply.